Tools



Aprii 1962 L. KNAUS 3,027,977

TOOLS Filed Aug. '7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 62 52 H25 5758 m mm W m FIG.6

INVENTOR.

LIONEL KNAUS L. KNAUS April 3, 1962 TOOLS Filed Aug. 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.3

FIG.4

INVENTOR. LIONEL KNAUS 3,927,977 TQOLS Lionel Knaus, Worthington, Ohio, assignor t Reed and Knaus, Inc. Filed Aug. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 832,226 6 Claims. (Cl. 18865.1)

I The invention disclosed and claimed in this application relates to tools. It is illustrated by a carpenters plumb bob useful in establishing vertical lines. Prior hereto, many plumb bobs of various kinds have been invented and patented. For instance, many plumb bobs have been patented in which there is provided a cord winding mechanism arranged therein whereby when the plumb bob is not in use, the cord is reeled or wound up within the body of the plumb bob. Most of t ese devices employ a spring in conjunction with the cord winding mechanism for actuating such mechanism and for winding up the cord when the plumb bob is not in use. Some of the patented arrangements provide a brake for preventing the undesired unwinding of the cord from the reel when the plumb bob is not in use and also when it is desired to suspend the plumb bob in operation.

Objects One of the objects of my invention is to provide improvements in mechanisms for reeling in the suspending cord of a plumb bob and whereby a cheaper, simpler, and more durable construction may be provided.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plumb bob embodying the above described characteristics which shall be simple in construction and efiicient in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a plumb bob of simple construction which is provided with an internal cord winding mechanism, spring actuated for automatically taking up the line by means of which the bob is suspended, and thereby protecting the line and preventing it from becoming entangled with itself or other tools of the kit.

A further object of the invention is the improvement in automatic plumb bobs so as to provide a bob wherein the supporting cord is connected to the weight in such manner that when not in use the cord may be automatically wound up within the bob and wherein any length of cord may be withdrawn and the bob clamped to the cord to restrain the operation of the winding up means until it is desired to release the same.

Further objects of my invention are to provide a plumb bob which is simple in construction and arrangement, strong, durable, eilicient and convenient in its use, readily set up and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is an improvement in the brake on the cord in a device of the character described which prevents the cord from being either unwound further, or wound up further, than the desired length for suspending the bob.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for adjusting at will, the tension of the spring which acts on the reel to wind up the cord.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the subjoined specification and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

I have shown an embodiment of my invention for the purpose of illustrating the same.

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a plumb bob constructed according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of FIG. 1 the cord brake being shown in released position, and the showing being on an enlarged scale;

BfiZZW? Patented Apr. 3, 1962 FIG. 3 is a plan view taken substantially as if on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in elevation of the reel of the device taken substantially on the line44 of FIG. 2; and showing a portion broken away and a portion in section to show the spring which operates the reel;

FIG. 5 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the cap showing the details of the mechanism used as a brake for the cord by which the plumb bob is suspended.

Detailed Description Referring still to the drawings for a detailed description of the embodiment of my invention disclosed, it may be seen that I have shown in FIG. 1 a plumb bob 11 having a main body 12., a hardened point 13 and a cap 14. The main body 12 is formed with a central bore and in ternally threaded as at 15 (see FIG. 2) with an internal thread. A stud 16, threaded with an external thread is inserted and secured in said bore and holds the hardened point 13 firmly and securely to the main body 12. If the hardened point 13 becomes worn, it may be removed and replaced.

The main body 12 is hollow as at 21. Within the hollow 21 there is provided a reel 22 for the cord 23. There are also provided a spring unit 24, and a pinion and gear assembly generally designated 25, by which the spring unit 24 drives the reel 22 to wind up the cord 23 and by which tension is put upon the spring unit 24 as the reel 22 is turned in unwinding the cord 23. The drive 25 comprises a series of large and small gears or cogwheels. The large gear 26 is on the shaft 27 of the casing 27a and meshes with the smaller gear 28 on the shaft 29. Also on the shaft 29 is a large gear 36 which meshes with a smaller gear 31 on the shaft 32 of the reel 22. Thus a slight turning movement of the casing 27a of the spring unit 24 causes a relatively large number of turns of the reel 22 and winding up of the cord 23. When the cord 23 is let out it turns the reel 22 which in turn causes a relatively small movement of the casing 27a. The outer end of the spring 33 is connected to the casing 27a and the inner end of the spring 33 is connected to the shaft 27 (see FIG. 4). The shaft 27 carries also a toothed wheel 35 with which a pawl 35 cooperates to maintain any desired tension on the spring 33 relative to the frame 37 which is immovable in the body 12. Thus the tension on the spring 33 may be increased and the pawl 36 will hold the desired tension. On the other hand, if it is desired to relieve the tension, the pawl 36 is released from engagement with the toothed wheel 35 and such tension may be relieved to the desired point.

I have designed a special braking mechanism for releasibly holding the cord in any desired position. This mechanism is illustrated best in FIGS. 2 and 6'. Therein it may be seen that the cap 14 is also hollow, having a hollow 41. It also has a cross bore 42. In the upper face of the cap there is formed a central vertical opening 43. Through this opening 43- the cord 23 extends when the device is assembled as is shown in FIG. 2. Within the cross bore 42, at one end, there is permanently secured as by a press fit, a slotted sleeve 44. The sleeve 44 is formed with a concentric bore 45 and is provided with slots 46 and 47 for purposes later to be described.

A main pin or plunger 51 having an enlarged slotted stepped head 52 at one end and having its opposite end threaded externally as at 53 is provided. The pin has a pair of parallel bores 54 and 55 intermediate the head 52 and the end 53. Through the bore 54 the cord 23 passes and through the bore 55 there is inserted by a press fit a very small pin or tube 56 which cooperates with the slots 46 and 4-7 to position the pin 51 so that the bore 54 is always vertical and aligned with the opening 43. On the pin 51 intermediate the head 52 and the small pin 56 are a pair of fiber washers 57 and 58. The washer 58 forms an abutment and the washer 57 forms a clamp ing means.

The end of cross bore 42 opposite to the sleeve 44 is internally threaded as at 61. A spring 62 is positioned to bear on the smaller portion of the head 52 and is compressed between the larger portion of the head 52 and a screw 63 threaded into the internal threads 61 of the bore 42, the spring bearing at one end on the inner end of the screw 63 and at its other end on the larger portion of the head 52. A small internally threaded head 64 is threaded onto the threaded end 53 of pin 51 and serves as means by which the operator may push the plunger 51 in compressing the spring and relieving the clamping action on the cord 23.

Assembly and Operation The spring 33 is adjusted to the desired degree of tension by means of the shaft 27 and held in place by the pawl 36. The spring unit 24, the pinion and gear assembly 25 and the reel 22 and their supporting frame are assembled through the open upper end of the body 12 with the cap 14 removed. The washers 57 and 58 are assembled on the pin 51 and then secured against displacement by the small pin 56. The pin 51 is then inserted through the threaded opening 61 and the spring 62 inserted thereon. Then the screw 63 secures these parts in place as it is threaded into the bore 42 at 61. The screw 64 is then threaded onto the threaded end 53 on the pin 51. The cord 23 is then wound around and secured to the reel 22 and then threaded through the opening 43 and bore 54. The cap 14 is threaded into the upper end of the body 12 and the hardened point 13 is threaded into the lower end thereof.

When it is desired to use the plumb bob, pressure is exerted on the screw 64. Inasmuch as the screw 64 is secured to the pin 51 this moves the pin 51 inward (to the left in FIG. 2 acting through the head 52 to compress the spring 62 against screw 63. This allows the washers 57 and 58 to separate as shown in FIG. 2 and allows the cord 23 to be pulled out unwinding from reel 22 and through gear train 25 winding up the spring 33 to a greater tension. When the cord is extended to the desired point, pressure is released from the screw 6 which allows the spring 62 to move the pin 51 to the right (as shown in FIG. 2) so that the head 52 moves the washer 57 into contact with the washer 58 which cannot move to the right on account of its contact with the inner end of the sleeve 44. The two washers 57 and 58 clamp the cord 23 between them preventing the cord from unwinding further from the reel 22 or from being wound up to a greater extent by the. spring unit 24. When the use is finished, the screw is again pressed and thereupon the spring unit 24 acts on the reel 22 to wind up the cord 23 again so that the cord does not become entangled with other tools.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiment of my invention is for the purpose of illustration only and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord; a braking device for said cord comprising a cap having a cross bore; an abutment positioned in said cross bore; a plunger positioned in said bore, having a bore at right angles to the first named bore through which said cord passes, and having a head which is urged into contact with said abutment to clamp said cord; and a spring positioned in said bore and bearing on said plunger for urging said head intr contact with said abutment to clamp said cord.

2. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord; a braking device for said cord comprising a cap having a cross bore; an abutment positioned in said cross bore; a plunger positioned in said bore, having a bore at right angles to the first named bore through which said cord passes, and having a head which is urged into contact with said abutment to clamp said cord; a spring positioned in said bore and bearing on said plunger for urging said head into contact with said abutment to clamp said cord; and means to compress said spring and move said plunger in the opposite direction to release said cord.

3. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord; a braking device for said cord comprising a cap having a cross bore; a slotted sleeve fitted in said cross bore; a main pin threaded at one end and having a head at the opposite end, having a positioning smaller pin cooperating with the slots of said sleeve to position the main pin in said bore, and having a pair of washers positioned on said main pin intermediate the head and the positioning pin; a screw in the end of said cross bore opposite to said slotted sleeve and a spring interposed between said last named screw and said head for urging said washers into contact with each other against said slotted sleeve.

4. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and in which a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord on said reel; a braking device for said cord adapted to hold the cord at any given position relative to said plumb bob comprising a cap adapted to be screwed onto the top of said plumb hob and formed with a cross bore extending laterally through it and with a vertical opening through which the cord extends; an abutment secured in said bore adjacent to which said cord is arranged to pass; a plunger in said bore formed with an inner head which is positioned on the opposite side of said cord from said abutment and which is normally urged toward contact with said abutment to clamp the cord between said head and said abutment and also having an outer head normally protruding outward from said bore so that it may be pressed inward by an operator to compress the spring and release said clamping action and to release said cord; and a spring bearing on said plunger and adapted to tend to move said inner head toward contact with the abutment, and said spring and plunger thus being adapted to clamp the cord whenever said outer head is not pressed inward.

5. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and in which a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord on said reel; a braking device for said cord adapted to hold the cord at any given position relative to said plumb bob comprising a cap adapted to be screwed onto the top of said plumb hob and formed with a cross bore extending laterally through it and with a vertical opening through which the cord extends; an abutment consisting of a washer secured in said bore adjacent which said cord is arranged to pass; a plunger in said bore formed with an inner head having a washer which is positioned on the opposite side of said cord from said abutment and which is normally urged toward contact with said abutment to clamp the cord between said head and said abutment and also having an outer head normally protruding outward from said bore so that it may, when desired, be pressed inward by an operator to release said clamping action and release said cord; and a spring bearing on said plunger and adapted to tend to move said head toward contact with the abutment, and said spring, plunger and inner head thus being adapted to clamp the cord.

6. For use in connection with a plumb bob of the type in which a reel is provided for winding and unwinding a cord by which the plumb bob is at times suspended and in which a spring is provided for exerting force on said reel to cause it to tend to wind up said cord on said reel; a braking device for said cord adapted to hold the cord at any given position relative to said plumb bob comprising a cap adapted to be screwed onto the top of said plumb bob having across bore extending laterally through it and having a vertical opening through which the cord extends; a slotted sleeve fitted in said cross bore; a main pin, threaded at one end and having an inner head at the opposite end, having an outer head secured to the threaded end, having a positioning smaller pin extending through the main pin and cooperating with the slots of said sleeve to position the main pin in said bore, and having a pair of washers positioned on said main pin intermediate the inner head and the positioning pin, one

of which serves as an abutment and the other of which is moved by said inner head to clamp the cord between the washers; a screw in the end of said cross bore opposite to said slotted sleeve; and a spring interposed between said last named screw and said inner head adapted to urge the main pin outward to move said washers into contact with each other against said slotted sleeve to clamp the cord between them, said outer head being provided so that it may be pressed inward by an operator to release said cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 279,316 Avery June 12, 1883 649,032 Ysskin May 8, 1900 725,048 Cutting Apr. 14, 1903 741,501 Johnson Oct. 13, 1903 854,931 Crotchett May 29, 1907 1,349,565 Ewing et al. Aug. 17, 1920 1,369,523 Easterberg et al. Feb. 22, 1921 1,534,397 Klesler Apr. 21, 1925 FOREIGN PATENTS 321,819 Italy Oct. 17, 1934 

